A loving family is celebrating after their newest arrival marks the fifth generation of women.
Maeve Marie Barrington, aged just three weeks, is the youngest arrival in the fifth generation of girls. The family, from Kirkby, have now all been pictured together for the first time as they welcome the newest addition.
The youngster is joined by her mum Shayla Thomas, 21, who now lives in Wirral, nan Claire Curran, 41, great-nan Margaret Dalton, 63, and great-great nan Marie Smith, aged 91. With almost 92 years from youngest to oldest, the family said they are all "best friends" and were all "lovely surprises".
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Claire told the ECHO: "My nan, we call her nin and despite her age she's still active, but she's not always going to be here so it's so lovely we've caught this in time. Nin has loads of grandkids, we are a large family and we actually have four five generations. We aren't the first and we won't be the last.
"Without our nin, we wouldn't have all of us, she has too many grandkids to count and loads of great grandkids. We come from a large family and when my grandad passed a few years ago, it was a lonely time for her but she has all of us to support her, that's why we think she's still going.
"Grandad loved Christmas because everyone was in his house, he loved having his family over so I think he'd be over the moon with another addition. It's brilliant having a large family, you're never short of a friend or someone to talk to and we are all really close knit and tight.
"Everyone knows everyone because we are all related but it all really steps from our nin, she had nine children, but one sadly died at a young age."
Despite the perks of having a large family, Claire admitted Christmas can be a bit of a struggle, but they all enjoy getting together as a family, at Marie Smith's home. Claire added: "There's too many to buy for, we've got to the point now where we don't buy everyone because you always forget one or someone gets something better and it causes trouble.
"So it's easier this was and all the kids understand as well. But we spend Christmas together and Easter as well as Mother's Day and Father's Day even though grandad is no longer here, we still celebrate. On Birthday's we all gather in nin's house or for her birthday we take her out for something to eat.
"Her house isn't massive so now it's a case of if you move out of the chair for a second you lose your seat to someone else but it's great fun being a large family."
Claire, who has four children herself, paid tribute to her nin who remains active and fairly independent as "without her, there would be none of us". She said: "She's amazing.
"She recently had a hip operation and is getting back on her feet. There's someone always staying with her but we all visit her regularly and she still goes to the bingo. She's still active for her age."
Marie Smith, originally from Scotland Road, is set to celebrate her 92nd birthday this year and has worked for Knowsley Council and the Tobacco factory in Liverpool. Claire said she "loves" having a lot of grandchildren and great-grand children to spend time with.
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